Attitudes of Parents of Preschool Children toward Integration

Abstract

One hundred forty-one parents of preschool children with and without disabilities, enrolled in integrated or self-contained classrooms, participated in this study. Parents responses on the Parent Perspectives on Integration Questionnaire, administered at the beginning of the school year, were factor analyzed. The revised instrument was then used to assess parents' attitudes at the end of the school year. Results suggested that all parents held generally positive attitudes toward integration. By the end of the school year, parents whose children had participated in an integrated program held more positive attitudes toward integration than did parents whose children had not participated in this type of class. Implications of these results for the development of integrated early childhood programs are discussed.